Sailing with J Pod Southern Resident Killer Whales

July 29, 2018 –    South through Turn Island pass under sail in warm sunshine. Harbor seals were soaking up the sun warming their bodies. New pups are learning the world and we see some nursing. Sailed across San Juan Channel to Big Rock glacial erratic on Lopez then tacked to Harbor Rock and Goose island to the South of San Juan. Cormorants: Pelagic, Double Crested and Brandts, are nesting. Gulls have chicks which are all the same size balls of grey feathers. Tacked across the swirling currents of Cattle Pass to Whale Rocks where now 3 possibly 4 Steller Sea Lions have just returned from there long trip North to Queen Charlottes and beyond. Out to Salmon Bank marker scanning for Minke Whales and offshore to Eagle Point where we met male Southern Resident killer whale J27 Blackberry traveling North quickly and oozing in toward shore. Most of J pod were close to shore in their family groups traveling up Island presumably knowing as we did that the J17s were coming down from the Fraser and they were to meet close to shore Lime Kiln Point. They all travelled North together and they swam passed Seine Fishing boats using a technique the whales are familiar with of having nets being set a 1/4 mile ahead of their path. Sailing wing on wing we had many great views of J pod as they travelled across Andrews Bay in a large group. Milling and foraging in Mitchell Bay. We saw J35 at a distance traveling close to shore, surrounded by her pod, We heard she was still carrying her deased calf who’d passed away on Jul 24th as she had throughout her trip to the Fraser River. There were many great acoustics , some recorded. J16s, J39 and J19s were leading but flipped at Battleship Island to meet the others near Open Bay. We had great views as they passed us at Kellet Bluff on Henry Island as we sailed North. Sailing on passed Battleship to Spieden Island and into New Channel. Supper in New Channel drifting the forested shoreline and through the magical Cactus Islands. Mirror waters reflected vivid colors. The kelp forest in its prime from which harbor seals and pups popped their heads up. Phalaropes were on the rocks to the North. On to Flattop National Wildlife Refuge with many seals and bald eagles. Pigeon Guillemots whistled high pitched mesmerizing calls. The evening light highlighted the colours of geology. Hugged jones Island East side through Spring Pass passing Reef Island and into Pole Pass for our return to Orcas Island ferry dock.